This is a 190 years old building fully restored some years ago to its glory, the former home of Kapitan Cina Koh Lay Huan a brief history, Koh Lay Huan (died 1826) was a wealthy and educated man,[1] who had earlier rebelled against the Manchu Qing Dynasty and fled to Siam and the Malay States, to eventually settle in Penang as its first Kapitan China.[2] He was a merchant, planter, tax farmer,[3]
Chinese secret society headman, and one of a handful of pioneering leaders of Penang.[4]
from T'ung-an county,[5] Zhang Zhou Prefecture in the Fujian Province,[6] on the southeast coast of China. At the time, Fujian was at the focus of the activities of Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society), a secret society aiming at the overthrow of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Having become involved in rebellious activity, Koh Lay Huan was forced to flee to the south part of Siam, where he settled successfully.[7]
He became a close ally of the headman/penghulu of Nakhon Srithammarat (who would, around 1821, marry one of Koh's daughters in Penang).[8][9] Later, encouraged by commercial prospects, he moved to Kedah where he again settled successfully,[7] kept a second family,[10] and became Kapitan Cina of Kedah at Kuala Muda.[11]
Participation in the founding of Penang[edit]
Main article: History of Penang
In 1786 Francis Light claimed the island of Pulau Pinang on behalf of the King of England and renamed it Prince of Wales Island. There were only about a hundred Malay fishermen inhabiting the island at that time, but the population would grow fast - to 5,000 in 1789 and 10,000 ten years later.[12]
Koh Lay Huan had a share in that success. Already a shortly time after Light arrived, Koh Lay Huan came to visit him [13] and brought with him, from Kuala Muda, Kedah, several boatloads of Chinese and Malays to clear the land, inhabit, trade and generally develop the island.[14] At their inaugural meeting, Koh presented Light with a present of some fishing nets.[6] In May 1787 Light appointed Koh as the first Kapitan Cina of Penang.[15]
Light respected Koh's canniness, enterprise and social and political acumen and connections. He was recorded to have said about Koh, "Tuanka (towkay) China is an old fox. He has little to do with the government but being rich and having married a daughter of the old King he bears a considerable sway in their Becharas or Council"[16] By appointing Koh Kapitan China, Light had gained an able administrator and judge. Koh was known as Chewan in official documents.[6] He was also known as Koh Lay Hwan,[17] Cheki,[18] Chu Khee,[19] Ku Li-huan and Patcan.[20]
